How I Spent My Summer Vacation

So sorry I didn't warn my readers that I was going on vacation and wouldn't be blogging.  I didn't want to tell burglars that my house would be empty.

Old Faithful at Old Faithful

We were in Wyoming touring Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park.  This is mountainous country, so I didn't even attempt to bring my computer.  I had hard enough time with my iPhone just texting when I could.

The very first day of hiking I got a blister on my heel.  I don't understand why because I've worn those hiking shoes many, many times.  I wasn't too upset because I could feel my asthma tightening in  my chest when we were climbing fast.  I had to stop a few times to catch my breath.

So the second day through the fourth day we rented a device called Gaperguide.  It's a Godsend.  It's a GPS self-guided auto tour.  Wherever we drove, the Gaperguide told us everything we needed to know about what we were viewing.  It gave directions.  It told us how far a hike was.  I was wearing flip flops because of my blister, so I couldn't walk too, too far, so the Gaperguide was perfect.  Gaperguide even mocked us for taking pictures at the Welcome to Yellowstone sign, when we were leaving.

The fifth and sixth day we visited Jackson City and Jackson Hole, buying souvenirs and enjoying the cowboys.  Everybody is friendly and the landscape is so different than what I'm used to here in New England.  The open prairies seem to go on forever, but I'll tell you more in subsequent posts.

Why I Hate Vacations

Cancun, Mexico

Vacations and retreats are periods of stress for me.  I can't relax.  I don't de-stress; I stress more.  The thought of all I have to do to catch up from being away is what's stressing.  And since I'm on vacation or retreat, I have all the time in the world to think of more things to do, just makes matters worse.

Besides, everyone I love and want to be with, isn't with me.  All my favorite things aren't with me.  I don't have my pillow!  It's not my cooking, which leads to an intestinal adjustment, which isn't pleasant.

Also, the going there and coming home makes me sick.  I have motion sickness.  My ears suffer excruciating pain when I fly.

Ugh.  Leave me alone.  Let me stay home.  That's where I'm happiest.

How I Spent My Fall Vacation

Fountain in front of Eastern Slope Inn Resort, N. Conway, NH

It's Sunday Snippets time, A Catholic Carnival.  A group of bloggers review their posts on Sunday, at RAnn's place.  Go over there and read some.

First, a couple of my favorite blogs are My Way/God's Way and Stepping Stones.    MY Way/God's Way is sweet.  It's written by two elderly twin Dominican friars.  They only post once a week.  They're sweethearts.  Stepping Stones and Signal Fire is written by a Mom, a prison ministry advocate, and a Boston College professor.  She writes daily reflections.

This week I'm on vacation.  We chose to go to New Hampshire because my daughter and son-in-law were in a relay, up there.  So it was a way to enjoy the fun and be there for them.

Monday -- I posted about the death of my husband's good friend, Dave, my "cloistered brother", Br. Paul Mary, and my neighbor, Don, in God is so Good.

Tuesday -- In hiking around here, a common refrain is "There's a Pub at the Top!"  This post is about my climb up to Arethusa Falls.

Wed. and Thurs.  I didn't post because blogger was giving me trouble.  Coupon Drop Downs have infected by blog and I can't get rid of them.

Friday - We drove up to the Summit of Mt. Washington.  We did it the day before but I couldn't get to the page to draft a post.  Friday we also dropped Cheryl and Jon off at Cannon Mountain, to begin the relay.

Saturday - The Relay to the Beach was completed.  \0/

And here we are today, going home.  The vacation is over.  

Vacation Advice

The Holy Father offers vacation advice.   It wasn't what I expected.  It was simple and a little paragraph and easy to do.  I was expecting advice like don't go too far away from a church building because you should celebrate Mass everyday.  Bring religious DVD's, books.  In fact,  spend your vacation at a religious retreat place.
 
But it was none of that!  It was go enjoy the culture of where you are vacationing.  Uplift your body and soul by renewing and resting.  Enjoy family time.  Thank God and meditate on His goodness.  Well, it was so brief that here's its entirety.

VATICAN CITY, JULY 24, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is offering some tips on how to live one's summer holiday, says a Vatican spokesman.

On the most recent edition of Vatican Television's "Octava Dies," Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi spoke of the "brief but important suggestions" that the Pope has made over the past few weeks about vacation.

"First of all, [the Pope] invited those of us who can, to use our vacation time in a way that helps renew our relationships with others and with God," said Father Lombardi. "Interrupting the hectic and frantic pace of daily life, we can take time to dedicate ourselves to others and to God.

"The Pope even suggested we include a copy of the Sacred Scriptures in our suitcase. He also invited us to contemplate the greatness, and admire the beauty, of creation around us, recognizing in it the wonderful presence of the Creator."

"We need to observe this magnificent gift," Father Lombardi said, paraphrasing Benedict XVI, "with the same attention Jesus did. He knew how to interpret the language and signs of Creation, which is a gift we must respect, protect and care for, in the name of God, humanity and future generations."

"Finally, Pope Benedict suggested that pilgrims and travelers apply their intelligence and curiosity to discovering the monuments of the past -- witnesses of culture and faith, as he called them, examples of our spiritual roots and heritage," the priest said. "Cathedral and abbeys, in particular, are places where beauty helps us feel the presence of God and inspires us to pray for the rest of humanity, on its pilgrimage through the Third Millennium.

"The enjoyment of friendship, reading, nature and culture helps to nourish and restore our spirit. It gives us the strength to continue our journey refreshed and renewed."

  

Sint Maarten

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Well, it was like this.  I was having a really, really, bad week.  It started with my brother's death.  Then we had a blizzard; the governor called a state emergency.  I hurt my back shoveling.  A day latter, another snow storm.  Work was becoming v-e-r-y stressful.  I re-strained my back.

So hubby took me away. 

You see, this year is our 40th wedding anniversay.  (Yeah, we stuck it out.) :-p

But our anniversay is in July--but I needed it NOW! 

We've been in Sint Maarten for a week.     More postings on this vac/second honeymoon coming...

That's where I've been.  And that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

How I Spent My Spring Vacation

It's raining today. Pouring, depressing rain is predicted for the entire weekend. Time to go home.

How I spent my Spring Vacation:
Visiting museums,
Hiking
Spa
Horseback riding
Praying on Mt. Greylock
Climbing a tree